Protecting yourself from property fraud

Property fraud is where fraudsters try to “steal” your property, most commonly by pretending to be you and selling or mortgaging your property without your knowledge. This is such a nightmare scenario as your property is your most valuable asset, which is why fraudsters target it.

Fraudster’s can attempt to acquire ownership by stealing an owner’s identity by using a forged document or impersonating the registered owner. Once they have raised money by mortgaging the property without the owner’s knowledge, they disappear without making repayments leaving the owner to deal with the consequences.

You should register your property with the Land Registry if it isn’t already. If you bought or remortgaged your property after 1998 then it should be registered, but it’s important to check the register.

So how can I protect myself from property fraud?

Many property owners will not know that information held with the Land Registry is available to view by anyone through the Land Registry website. Unfortunately, this includes fraudsters, who can easily find out who owns a property, their correspondence address, lender details and even samples of their signature. So, make sure the Land Registry can contact you with any changes.

Up to Date Information

It’s important to make sure the Land Registry has all the correct contact information for you. Make sure they can contact you wherever you live. This is because they may need to write to you when they receive an application regarding your property. If they don’t have an up-to-date contact address for you, you may not receive important information from them.

Also make sure you sign up for the Land Registry Property Alert Service.

Property Alert

Did you know you can sign up to Property Alert with the Land Registry, this is a free service and you can choose up to 10 properties to monitor. It will notify you if anyone attempts to change the legal title or other activities.

You can:

monitor a property if it’s already registered with HM Land Registry

monitor the property of a relative; you don’t have to own a property to set up an alert

choose up to 10 properties to monitor

You will receive email alerts when there is certain activity on the properties you are monitoring.

About the author

Julie Hanson along with her husband Alec is Co Director of Just do Property

Educated to degree level at Manchester then Thames Valley University, Julie has enjoyed building a property portfolio for 15 years.

She worked in a large corporate organisation for almost 20 years before deciding to launch her own business.

Julie enjoys looking after their 2 children whilst building her portfolio and bringing news and information to Just Do Property subscribers.

Alec and Julie are passionate about property - development, investment and portfolio planning and hope this new website continues to assist property investors with investment news, opportunities and up-coming events.